”the
start-of-term ba will begin shortly, but before you take your
seats i hall, you will be sorted into your houses. the
s is a very important y because, while you are here,
your house will be something like your family within hogwarts. you
will have classes with the rest of your house, sleep in your house
dormitory, aime in your house .
”the four houses are called gryffindor, hufflepuff, ravenclaw,
and slytherin. each house has its owory and each has
produced outstanding witd wizards. while ywarts,
your triumphs will earn your house points, while any rulebreaking
will lose house points. at the ehe house with the
most points is awarded the house cup, a great honor. i hope each
of you will be a credit to whies yours.
”the s y la a few minutes in front
of the rest of the school. i suggest you all smarten yourselves up
as much as you while y.”
her eyes lingered for a moment on nevilles cloak, which was
fastened under his left ear, and on rons smudged nose. harry
ried to flatten his hair.
”i shall return when we are ready for you,” said professor
magall. ”please wait quietly.”
she left the chamber. harry swallowed.
”how exactly do they sort us into houses?” he asked ron.
”some sort of test, i thi hurts a lot, but i
think he was joking.”
harrys heart gave a horrible jolt. a test? in front of the whole
school? but he didnt know any magic yet -- what oh would he
have to do? he haded somethihe moment they
arrived. he looked around anxiously and saw that everyone else
looked terrified, too. alki hermione
granger, hisperi about all the spells shed
learned and w whie shed need. harry tried hard not to
listen to her. hed never been more nervous, even when
hed had to take a se to the dursleys saying that
hed somehow tureachers wig blue. he kept his eyes fixed
on the door. any seow, prall would e back
ao his doom.